MySQL Cluster 7.3 is finalised

Oracle has released version 7.3 of its MySQL Cluster software as GA (Generally Available). Highlights of the release, which have been previewed over the last 12 months, include a NoSQL JavaScript Connector for Node.js and Foreign Key support. The new edition works with the latest MySQL 5.6 release and improves throughput of connections between nodes with more scalable thread provisioning. A new auto installer also simplifies the set-up process, allowing for graphical configuration of what Oracle says are production-grade, automatically tuned clusters.

The Node.js connector uses MySQL Cluster's native API library to connect to the data nodes directly without passing through an intermediate MySQL server. Developing with Node.js requires that the developer create a JavaScript mapping class and applies that mapping to a table in the MySQL Cluster database. After connecting, the developer can insert, delete and retrieve data in an asynchronous fashion. A quick tutorial on working with Node.js and MySQL Cluster covers the detail of the connector. The feature was previewed in October 2012.

Foreign Keys, introduced a year ago when Cluster 7.3 was still in the labs, allows the relationship between keys within the database to be defined. Foreign key relationships can be configured via the standard CASCADE, RESTRICT, NO ACTION and SET NULL referential elements. Foreign keys can be defined and removed at runtime without the need to interrupt system operation. Further details about foreign keys are covered in a ClusterDB tutorial. MySQL Cluster is built with NDB Cluster storage engine installed within a MySQL 5.6 Server; for applications that need InnoDB or MyISAM tables, traditional MySQL servers can be slaved from the cluster nodes; these configurations can now be created with the auto-installer GUI.

MySQL Cluster is dual-licensed as commercial and free software under the GPL; the commercial version has all the features of the Enterprise Edition of MySQL. Binaries and source code are available to download and a quickstart guide is available to help with Windows, Linux and Solaris installations. Release notes can also be viewed for a detailed list of all the changes.

(djwm)